Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

A blind woman who leapt 10,000ft from a plane has raised more than £5,000 for a charity close to her heart.

Sue Sims, from Caerphilly, did a sponsored skydive last summer to support Guide Dogs Cymru, in memory of her late guide dog, Flora.

The money raised was donated to the charity in exchange for the chance to name a guide dog puppy in memory of her late companion Flora, who died in 2021.

A year after the skydive, Sue and her husband Steve received a special visit from the now nine-month-old yellow labrador, which is being raised in Bristol by Guide Dogs volunteer Linda Hole.

Sue, who has had seven guide dogs in total, was surprised and delighted to discover that Linda had also raised Wenna, a black labrador who became Sue’s second guide dog.

Sue said: “Meeting puppy Flora made the skydive worthwhile. She was gorgeous and so well-behaved, giving puppy raiser Linda her full attention. I hope she goes on to be a successful guide dog.”

Talking about the impact guide dogs have had on her life, Sue said: “Having a guide dog gives you so much confidence to get out independently and meet people.

“They talk to you when you have a dog, but when you are using a cane they don’t like to approach you, or don’t know how.”

Sue and her current guide dog, Saxon, are members of the Caerphilly fundraising group for Guide Dogs, taking part in supermarket collections and talks.

“We meet so many people, and we just love it,” Sue said.

Anyone who would like to meet Sue and Saxon, can visit the pair at Talbot Green Tesco on June 13 and June 14, or Caerphilly Asda on Saturday June 21, where the Caerphilly Guide Dogs group will be hosting a collection bucket from 10am until 2pm.